Never lose your keys in the big giant purse full of everything again! Meet Nicole, a mom who came up with a stylish way for moms and kids to wear their keys around their necks, jewelry style! I was one of these kids, I was a latchkey kid, with the string, very uncool, around my neck in high school. I kept it hidden under my clothes usually. lol Now moms can run out to the park, no worry about those keys fumbling out of their pockets and no need to carry anything else with them and still look like Yummy Mummys. Hum, I wonder if it will hold my iPod too?

1. The products are so stylish and unique, but fill a common need for moms, another set of hands without comprimising style! Tell us a little about your business and how you started it?

I first began designing accessories when I saw a friend wearing her keys around her neck and was inspired to create a new and fashionable way to “tweak” this idea. Up until I started preppymommy.com, the only key lanyards you would see were the collegiate kind or the like. Now it is a fashion statement, a new way to express yourself! www.preppymommy.com features hip-yet-practical items that are inspired by my personal style and spirit; my designs have been featured on The View and are a favorite of celebrity moms. I actually launched my business after several years as a stay-at-home mom and I manage all marketing, publicity, and design. My background includes several years as a flight attendant and later as an HR generalist on Wall Street.

2. What initial challenges did you face in starting your company?

Starting a business as a mom has its own very specific challenges, as I’m sure you and your readers are well aware. Budgeting time is crucial. Juggling kids and work can be very tough to do! I had a phone interview with “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” and I actually had to call the producer back after I got my daughter situated with something to occupy her! Time is my biggest challenge!

3. Marketing for a small business is always a challenge, what methods have worked best for you so far?

Viral marketing and buzz marketing have been huge. My business began as a word-of-mouth type situation. Moms were approaching me at my daughter’s nursery school to buy lanyards…I am from the “sell out of the back of my SUV” school of business! And since I am my sole PR person, I have tried to use buzz marketing to my advantage as much as possible. I am always trying to get some new type of visibility, whether it be a blog, newspaper article or TV program.

4. Your products were mentioned on a segment on The View, how did that come about and has it had any impact on your business?

I was lucky enough to be put in touch with a producer at The View and she loved the Lucky Lanyard idea so much, she put it into a fashion segment highlighting mother-daughter fashions. The daughter wore her school ID on the lanyard, and the mom wore a matching ribbon belt (the “Lee Ann” and the “Livi” to be exact!). That day was at once the best day and the worst day of my preppymommy life thus far! Best day because, obviously, my designs were on The View – worst day because we were still in the process of launching our website, and I feel that we probably lost some business due to the fact that our online shopping cart had not yet launched! Goes to show that you can never plan your “big break”!

5. As a mom and a business owner, how do you balance motherhood and business?

Wait, is that even possible??!! Hey, if you ever figure out how to do that please let me know!

6. What’s next for Preppymommy?

Well, as I mentioned, I am hoping to be speaking with “The Big Idea” about an upcoming segment soon. I am also pitching to a few of the big daytime talk shows as well as some upscale department stores. I would love to get into ribbon design as well in the future.

7. What is your best piece of advice for a mom with a great idea for a product and no idea what to do first?

First step would be to head to the library…I loved the books Mommy Millionaire by Kim Lavine and Buzz Marketing by Mark Hughes. Then tap into the friends and family network. I have found that so many people have already gone through the same trials and tribulations I am having! And you never know who may have that bit of knowledge you are seeking!

Thanks so much for talking to us Nicole and good luck, I hope to see you on the Big Idea soon!

 Visit Nicole over at www.preppymommy.com

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